Isle Develop CIC

Meet the Host - Melanie Mouat

Owner of the Peerie Neuk Tiny Home in Unst

Your Host, Mel

Those of you who follow our other projects may recognise Mel - she was the Social Media and Vendor Manager for isle20, where she also sells her luxurious handmade soap.

The Peerie Neuk - The cosy interior of the Peerie Neuk
The cosy interior of the Peerie Neuk

I can see how our island communities are evolving and changing; whilst I see the need for holiday accommodation it's important to try and protect our communities too.

Before setting up her own business, Mel travelled the world and spent ten years working as a teacher in Bilbao in the Basque Country. She fell in love with soap making and decided to head home to Unst, to work in the same space where her family business has been since 1886. Mella Handmade Soap was born and the rest, as they say, is history. 

Her newest venture, The Peerie Neuk Tiny Home, was completed this year and hosted isleHoliday's first-ever guests, The Cardwells. You can read more about their visit here.

The Peerie Neuk is an eco-build shepherd's hut which is 99.9% plastic free! Utilising natural fleece as insulation, the wonders of wool mean that the hut is perfectly cool in summer and cosy enough to coorie in the winter.

Just a short stroll from Norwick beach and Victoria's Vintage Tearooms, what a perfect excuse to dip your toes in the sea and warm up with a cuppa. It would be rude not to! Hermaness National Nature Reserve is also close by; a fantastic opportunity to spot some of the UK's rarest wildlife. Whatever you get up to, you're sure to have a memorable trip. 

We asked Mel about her experience of setting up her new business and listing with us; here is what she had to say: 

How have you found listing your new venture with us? 

'It was really straightforward to set up, and people seem to like the concept of isleHoliday.'

Why did you choose to list with isleHoliday? 

'I like the community-focused ethos of isleHoliday, the Social Enterprise aspect is particularly important to me. I can see how our island communities are evolving and changing; whilst I see the need for holiday accommodation it's important to try and protect our communities too. I also appreciate being able to contact technical support when I need it.' 

Is there anything you'd like visitors to know about Unst? 

'Unst is much bigger than people realise - there is so much to see and do here, it is definitelly much more than a day trip destination! Getting to meet the locals is a great way of getting an insight into the way of life here. It's much more than Britain's Most Northerly Everything!' 

 

As you may have guessed, here at isleHoliday we love being able to put faces to places. Chatting to our owners is a huge part of what we do, and we really do learn something new from them every day. It's one of the many perks of the job! 

We may be biased, but we think this is the best way to really get to know our islands - by talking to the people who call them home. We hope that you will take the opportunity to do the same when you visit! Be sure to download the Scottish Islands Passport app before you set off - made by islanders, the app is like a tour guide in your pocket. Each passport stamp is uniquely designed with the culture and heritage of our islands in mind. It's a fantastic way to benefit from a wealth of local knowledge whilst also supporting innovation in our islands. 

Explore our amazing island accommodation options here, and plan your next adventure!

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